Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-06-04
=. JESS.
MISUNDERSTANDING,
Fat3srd:sNrs selenoesnueesSksEte

John got OH his shooting pony, and looking
about him perceived that it was possible to
descend by following the course of the stream
and clambering down the natural steps it had
cut in the rocky bed. Throwing the reins
over the pony's head, and leaving him with
the dog Pontiac to stand and look about hin
as South African shooting ponies are &C.
cnstoned to do, he put down his gun and
game and proceeded to descend. As he drew
near the bottom of the gorge he saw that near
the borders Of the stream, wherever the soil
was moist, grew thousands upon thousands of
white alum lilies, pig lilies" they call them
there, just now in full bloom. He had noticed
these lilies from above, but there they had.
owing to the distance, looked so small that he
had taken them for everlastings or anemones.
He could not see jess now, for she was hidden
by n bush that grows by the hanks of the
streams in South Africa in low living land.
and which at certain seasons of the year ia
literally covered with masses of the most
gorgeous scarlet bloom. His footsteps fell
very softly on the moss and flowers, and when
he got round the glorious looking bush it was
evident that she had not heard him, for she
was asleep. Her hat was off, but the bush
shaded her, and her head had fallen forward
over her sketching block and rested on her
hand. A ray of light that came through tho
bush played upon her curling brown hair and
threw warm shadows on her white face and
the White wrist and hand on which it rested.
John stood opposite to her and looked at
her, and the old curiosity to understand this
FEMININE enigma took possession of him.
Many a man before him has been tho victim
of a like desire, and lived to regret that he
did not leave it ungratiicd. 1t is not we'll to
tIv IN liff fIH c,1rtai, 1f tl,1 ,,,,oa,, "a :-..-x
well to call TO heaven to show its glory. or to
hell TO give us touch and knowledge of its
yawning fires. knowledge ONE soon
enough; many of us will say that
knowledge has como too soon, aud left
us desolate. There is no bitterness like
the bitterness Of wisdom; so cried the
great Koholeth, and so hath cried many q
son of man following hlindly in his path. Let
us be hankful for the dark places Of the
earthquakes where we may find rest and
shadow, and tho heavy sweetness of the night.
Seek not after mysteries, o son of man:
be content with the practical and the proved
and the broad light of the day; peep not, NUT
ter not the words of awakening. Understand
her who would be understood and is compre
hcnslble to those who run, and for the others
let them be, les. your fate should
be as the fate of Eve, and as the
fate of Lucifcr, star of the morning. For
here and there is q human heart from which
it is not wise to draw the veil-a heart in
which many things slumber as undreamed
dreams i'll the brain of the sleeper. Draw
not the veil, whisper not the word of life in
the silence where all things sleep, lest in that
kindling breath of love and pain dim shapes
arise, take form, and fright thee.
A minute or so might have been passed
when suddenly, and with n little start, jess
opened her great eyes, on which tho shadow
OF darkness lay, and gazed a. him.
3Oh!" she said, with q little trcnio,., "is it
you or is it my dream:'
"Don't. be afraid" he answered, cilcerily,
"it is lin the flesh"
She covered her face with her hand for q
moment, and then withdrew it, and he noticed
that her eyes had changed curiously in that
moment. They were still large and beautiful
US they always We're, but there was Il change.
Just now they had seemed as though her soul
were looking through them. Doubtless it
was because the pupils were enlarged by
sleep.